Pressing machine



Jan. 1, 1929.

1,697,124 J. C. LEDBETTER PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 17, v1925 Patented Jan. l, 1929.

yFFICE.'

JAMES C. LEDBETTER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO 'UNITED STATES HOFFMAN MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YOR K, N. Y., A CORPORATXON 0F DELAWARE.

PRESSING MACHINE.

Application led May 17, 1923. Serial No. 639,595.

This invention pertains to improvements in presses designed more particularly for use ii pressing garments, laundry work and the li re.Y

rlhe main object of the invention is to produce a press wherein a high degree of pressure may be effected between the pressing elements and this by the utilization of power means which is automatically brought into operation after the pressing elements have been manually brought to their closed position.

With this and other objects and advantages, which will hereinafter` appear, reference will be made to the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the press embodying my invention with the pressing elements in their open or separated position; and

ligure2, a detail sectional elevation show- V ing the relation of certain of the parts which obtains when the press is exerting final heavy pressure upon the garment or article at such time positioned between the pressing elements.

ln the drawings, 1 denotes the main frame of the machine upon which is supported a buck or iixed pressing element 2. Fulcrumed upon an upward extension 3 of the framey or between two such elements, as is common 1n practice, is a press lever 4 carrying at its forward end a press head 5 and a handle 6 by which the press head may be drawn downwardly during the initial closing ofthe press. The lever at its rear portion is provided with a counterweight 7, so that the lever may be readilymoved through a downward movement upon the handle 6. Fulcrumed upon a iixed bearing or shaft 8, located at the rear of the Jframe is a bell-crank lever, the vertical arm 9 whereot` is relatively long while the horizontally disposed arm 10 is relatively short. Fulcrumed at 11 at the inner endof the arm 10 isa link 12 of a toggle, the other link 13 of the toggle being pivotally connected by a through pin or bearing member 14 to the press lever 4. The link 13 embodies a yielding take-up or pressure element 15 as is well understood in the art. Straightening of the toggle, of course, rocks the lever and brings the head 5 into pressing relation to the buck and to effectlthis, I employ a second shown in Figure 2`straightens the toggle 16,

17 and causes the links 12 and 13 to come into alinement and through the rocking of the lever 4, close the head upon the buck with an initial degree of pressure. Such vdegree of pressure may be regulated within a limited extent by an adjustment of the takeup 15 and an adjustment of the length' of. the draw link 18. A stop 20 limits the downward movement of the treadle, the arrangement being such, however, that the toggle 16, 17 will assume its straightenedposition and hold the head in its closed relation.

To obtain the high degree ofpressure which is essential in certain work, as for instance, edge pressing, ll provide means whereby the bell-crank may be rocked and an upward thrust imparted to the then straightened pressure toggle 12, 13. Secured upon the frame of the machine is a cylinder 21 in which is mounted a piston 22, the piston rod 23 whereof extends rearwardly and is connected by a link 24 to the upper end of the long arm 9 of the bell-crank. lFrom this it will be seen that when the piston is movedoutwardly or toward the left, the bell-crank will be rocked and direct upward pressure exerted upon the pressure toggle and through the lever 4 to the head 5. To effect the admission of steam, which usually supplies the heating chamber in the head or other portion of the press, or

crumed at 32, upon a fixed portion of the frame.

, The treadle lever 19 carries an ladjustable contact screw 33, which when the treadle lever 19 is carried to its lowermost position contacts the outer end ofthe lever 31, thereby rocking' the same and opening the valve 27 against the action Aof the sprmg 28, thus admitting steam or other fluid under pressure through the pipe into the right hand end of the cylinder 21 thereby causing the piston 22 to travel outwardly and as above noted, effect the rocking of the bell-crank lever and the exertion of heavy pressure between the pressing elements.

Fulcrumed upon a fixed bar 34 at a point below the pedal lever is a kick-off pedal ort lever 35, said lever being normally held in its. inactive position or that shown in both gures by a spring 36 connected to the lever and to a stop 37 fixed to the frame 1 of the machine. Said lever has connected to it a link or rod 38, said rod extending upwardly and being pivotally connected to the handle or lever 39 of an exhaust valve 40, which communicates with the right hand end of the cylinder. The kick-o pedal also carries at its inner end a set screw 41 adapted to coact with a pad or abutment 42, formed on the lower face of the treadle lever 19. Thus, it will be seen that when the out-cr end of the treadle lever 35 is depressed, the link 38 will be-moved upwardly, opening Jthe exhaust valve 40 and allowing the steam to exhaust from the cylinder 21, which exhaust may be led to any desired point through suitable piping, not shown. -The exhaust of the steam from-the cylinder permits the piston to move to the right and likewise allows the bell-crank to rock so that its lower arm 10 swings downwardly, relieving the press of the high pressure.

Continued upward movement of the inner end of the kick-oft'l pedal 35 brings the set screw 41 into contact with the pad 42, thereby forcing treadle lever 19 upwardly, breaking the toggle 16, 17 and allowing the press head to swing open. Such opening movement is assisted by the use of a spring 43, interposed between-the thrust toggle and a xed portion of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the structure is relatively simple and that the press is economical in the use of steam because of the high leverage obtained through the use of the bell-,crank lever and connecting the piston rod to the long end of said lever.

What ll claim is:

1. lln a garment press the vcombination of coo eratin ressinor elements' a lever b t b 7 which one of said elements is carried; a toggle serving to rock the lever and to bring the pressing elements into pressing relation; a treadle lever; means interposed between said lever and the toggle for straightening the latter when the treadle lever is depressed; Huid actuated means acting ,upon the toggle to apply endwise movement thereto when the same is straightened; a source of fluid pressure; a valve normally cutting off the supply of pressure to the fluid actuated means; means interposed between the treadle lever and said valve for opening the valve when the toggle has been brought to its straightened position upon a depression of the treadle lever; and means acting to permit an exhaustion of the fluid pressure from the cylinder when the treadle lever is released.

2. In a garment press the combination of cooperating pressing elements; a lever by which one of said elements is carried; a toggle serving when straightened to rock the lever and bring the pressing elementsinto pressing relation; a second toggle, said second toggle being connected at one end to a fixed portion of the structure and at its oppositcI end to the toggle first mentioned; av

treadle lever; a link interposed between said lever and the second named toggle and serving when the treadle is depressed to straighten the second named toggle and through such vstraightening action to straighten the first named toggle; a cylinder; a piston mounted within said cylinder; connections intermediate said piston and the first mentioned toggle and serving as the piston is moved in one direction to exert an endwise thrust upon the first named toggle; a source of Huid pressure; a normally closed valve having a valve stem, located'between said source and an inlet to the cylinder; a lever connected at one end to the valve stem, said lever standing in the path of movement of the treadle lever and serving as the treadle lever contacts the same, as it is moved to straighten the second named toggle, to open the valve and admit fluid under pressure to the cylinder; and means under the control of the operator for throwing the treadle lever upwardly and thereby releasing the parts and simultaneously opening an exhaust passage leading from the cylinder.

3. In a garment press the combination of cooperating pressing elements; a lever by which one of said elements is carried; a toggle servin when straightened to rock the lever and ring the pressing elements into pressing relation; a second toggle, said second toggle being connected at one end to a fixed portion of the structure and at its opposite end to the toggle first mentioned; a treadle lever; a link interposed between said lever and the second named toggle and serving when the treadle is depressed to straighten the second named toggle and through such straightening action to straighten the first named toggle; a cylinder; a piston mounted within said cylinder ;connections intermediate said piston and the first mentioned toggle and serving as the piston is moved in one direction to exert an endwise thrust upon the first named toggle; a source of fluid pressure a normally closed valve, having a valve stem, located between said source and an inlet to the cylinder; a lever connected at one end to the valve stem, said lever standing in the path of movement of the treadle lever and serving as the treadle lever contacts the same, as it 1s moved to straighten the second named toggle, to open the valve `and admit Huid under pressure to the cylinder; :Ln exhaust valve in communication with the cylinder; a kickoil1 pedal for the treadle lever; and connec- JAMES C. LEDBETTER. 

